New bar on The Old Road is Valencia man’s first independent venture after 30 years in industry

Owner Tom Law and wife Jodi Law pose for a photo at Gameday Sports Grille & Bar in Valencia.

Valencia resident Tom Law finally decided he was in good field position to open up his own sports bar and restaurant.

After more than 30 years in the restaurant business, Law “just got to the point in my career when I wanted to do something on my own,” said the owner of the new Gameday Sports Grille Bar.

The restaurant on The Old Road opened on Oct. 24 with a menu that ranges from typical sports bar fare, such as nachos and burgers, to house specialties, such as Ahi tuna and crispy brie sticks. The lineup is a combination of Law’s favorites and what he has seen is successful with customers, he said.

Law has worked at every level of the restaurant business, starting more than 30 years ago, when he “got a job as a busboy and went from there.” His previous experience includes chains like TGI Friday’s and Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar.

It was after living in Valencia for four years that he decided his first independent venture would be an area sports bar and restaurant where people could bring their kids and watch the game.

“This city is a family-focused city, and that’s what our concept is about,” Law said. “A place where you’re safe and comfortable.”

Every detail of the 8,550 square-foot restaurant is sports-related, and Law designed the facility himself. The walls are filled with sports memorabilia and the 30 televisions are tuned to games and “SportsCenter.” The servers are called coaches.

Menu items are named after sports terms, like the Personal Fowl, a chicken sandwich.

And, of course, there’s the full bar. But Law says Gameday “isn’t a shot and beer joint.”

“It’s a family food and fun atmosphere,” Law said. “Mom can bring the kids after the soccer game.”

The business is also run in a family-oriented fashion. Law co-owns it with his wife, Jodi, who left the orthodontic industry to help open Gameday.

“After this started, we decided we were going to work at this together,” Jodi Law said.

Since it is Tom’s first independent project and Jodi’s first time in the restaurant business, Jodi said she has been appreciative of the support from the community and the feedback she has received about the need for a sports bar.

“It’s very hard work, but the people have been so welcome,” Jodi Law said.

She hopes that the restaurant can work more closely with the Santa Clarita community in the future, and plans to partner with local sports teams for fundraisers and projects.

“It would be great if we could be their destination for those types of things,” she said.

Gameday Sports Grille & Bar, located at 27430 The Old Road in Valencia can be reached by calling (661) 799-2777. More information is available at www.gamedaysportsgrilleandbar.com.